Location of streets etc: The controversial urban planner, Baron Haussmann, razed much of Hugo’s old Paris in the mid-19th century while the writer was in exile. The labyrinth of narrow, interweaving streets and hidden neighborhoods, relics of the medieval age, was leveled into the broad, sidewalk-bordered avenues that define modern Paris. This was both an effort to quell the city’s rampant congestion and the disease it fostered, and to prevent the building of revolution barricades. Today, though, it is still possible for travelers to find echoes of the Paris that Hugo once knew, from the house where he lived and the places he frequented, to the subterranean abyss that haunts the pages of the author’s most enduring novel. Read more here: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/take-a-tour-of-victor-hugos-paris-171769919/

Accents: The Broadway show (and therefore the movie) was written for an English audience. To clearly indicate the language differences in social status, certain roles were determined to use particular English accents, so the audience would understand.

The French has quite a number of uprisings before and after the French Revolution; all in an attempt by or for the poor to get a better life. The English delayed such a revolution by arresting and shipping trouble makers to the Colonies and later had to fight in the Americas and the Raj (Colonial India) what otherwise would have been a revolution in the Home Country. Russia did not escape their revolution.

]]>By: Cynthia Havenhttp://bookhaven.stanford.edu/2012/12/enjoy-les-miserables-but-please-get-your-history-straight-first/comment-page-3/#comment-3756295
Fri, 23 Sep 2016 21:49:27 +0000http://bookhaven.stanford.edu/?p=25423#comment-3756295You’re certainly welcome!
]]>By: C. Crowleyhttp://bookhaven.stanford.edu/2012/12/enjoy-les-miserables-but-please-get-your-history-straight-first/comment-page-3/#comment-3756287
Fri, 23 Sep 2016 21:48:41 +0000http://bookhaven.stanford.edu/?p=25423#comment-3756287Thanks for the detailed information and the references. I have read the book at least three times and found your site very helpful.
]]>By: Commune Bloghttp://bookhaven.stanford.edu/2012/12/enjoy-les-miserables-but-please-get-your-history-straight-first/comment-page-3/#comment-3667907
Sun, 11 Sep 2016 10:48:18 +0000http://bookhaven.stanford.edu/?p=25423#comment-3667907Paris Commune Liberty On The Barricades

[…] e (the oldest in the cast was 18), at Whitley Bay playhouse in the north of Engl […]

[…] amed to admit I bawled my eyes out for the last 20 minutes or so, and was still […]

]]>By: Cheryl Bonner Trouphttp://bookhaven.stanford.edu/2012/12/enjoy-les-miserables-but-please-get-your-history-straight-first/comment-page-3/#comment-3152689
Mon, 11 Jul 2016 04:53:57 +0000http://bookhaven.stanford.edu/?p=25423#comment-3152689I have seen Les Mis so many times that I sometimes start wondering when MY PLAY is coming back to town(Kansas City.)
I have never learned so much about the history before tonite. Thanks so much for putting it all together. Cheers!
]]>By: Cynthia Havenhttp://bookhaven.stanford.edu/2012/12/enjoy-les-miserables-but-please-get-your-history-straight-first/comment-page-3/#comment-3097715
Sun, 03 Jul 2016 21:19:56 +0000http://bookhaven.stanford.edu/?p=25423#comment-3097715Why, thank you, James! And you’re welcome!
]]>By: james lortzhttp://bookhaven.stanford.edu/2012/12/enjoy-les-miserables-but-please-get-your-history-straight-first/comment-page-3/#comment-3097309
Sun, 03 Jul 2016 18:38:08 +0000http://bookhaven.stanford.edu/?p=25423#comment-3097309Great info! And great handling of the masses. I’m reminded of a quote from Peter Stone when he was writing the book to the musical “1776”: “God writes lousy theatre.” The actual events are always more interesting but don’t always lend themselves to a dramatic telling. I appreciate all your efforts and am glad to have discovered your postings. Thank you!
]]>By: Ernesto Rivashttp://bookhaven.stanford.edu/2012/12/enjoy-les-miserables-but-please-get-your-history-straight-first/comment-page-2/#comment-2506891
Tue, 26 Apr 2016 21:58:25 +0000http://bookhaven.stanford.edu/?p=25423#comment-2506891This is terrific! I just started reading Les Misérables and was not quite sure about the historical context. Your article sets things straight for me so thank you very much. I found your article by a Google search “Is Les Misérables true.” Bravo! E
]]>